Door antirattle device



Dec. 1-0, 1963 M. M. WESTERDALE 3,113,797 DOOR ANTIRATTLE DEVICE Filed May 16. 1961 MAURICE M. WESTERDALE INVENTOR.

BY )Q aw, 1. W

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 015 [ice 3,113,797 Patented Dec. 10, 1963 3,113,797 DOOR ANTIRATTLE DEVICE Maurice M. Westerdale, Inkster, Mich, assignor to Ford Motor Company, Deal-horn, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 16, war, $81. No. 110,544 4 Claims. c1. z92 1s7 This invention relates to an antirattle device for doors, particularly the cargo doors on panel trucks or the like.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an antirattle device adapted to be positioned between a free edge wall of a vehicle door and a latch bolt engageable striker plate carried on the jarnb face of a door framing structure. The antirattle device is constructed and arranged to minimize the occurrence of vehicle door rattles and chucking in the event that the door seals fail to exert sufficient outward pressure on the door to hold the latch bolt tightly against the cooperating side wall of a latch bolt receiving aperture in a striker plate.

In its illustrated embodiment, the antirattle device comprises a mounting plate having a resilient flange along one edge. The mounting plate is provided with an aperture through which a latch bolt is adapted to project for normal engagement with a latch bolt receiving aperture in a striker plate. The mounting plate of the antirattle device is secured to the free edge wall of the door with its resilient flange at the door outer edge. In closed position of the door, the resilient flange is adapted to engage a side wall of the striker plate. The resilient flange is effective to urge the door outwardly a slight degree, creating a misalignment between the latch bolt and the latch bolt receiving aperture in the striker plate. As the latch bolt is forced home into the aperture in the striker plate, this misalignment is corrected. This results in the latch bolt, through the action of the resilient flange, being held tightly in engagement with an abutting wall of the aperture in the striker plate. The relationship is such as to substantially maintain the door against rattling and chucking movements.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and efiicient antirattle device.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the cooperative relationship between the latch bolt, the striker plate and the antirattle device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the antirattle device mounted on the bottom of a door;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the antirattler device; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring. now to the drawing, particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference numeral 11 designates generally a lower corner portion of a door such as a cargo door on a panel truck or other vehicle body. The door 11 comprises an outer panel 12 and an inner panel 13, the inner panel having flanges 14 and 15 forming the horizontal free edge wall and vertical free edge wall, respectively, of the door. The flange or free edge wall 14 has a rectangular aperture 16 therein through which a slide bolt 17 is adapted to extend in a conventional manner. The slide bolt 17 is guided in its projecting and retracting movements through the flange 14 by a rectangular guide sleeve 18 which is rigidly fixed to the inner side of the flange 14 by welding or suitable fastening means. The bolt 17 is coupled by a draw bar 19 to a latch mechanism (not shown) which may be actuated to project or retract the bolt to latch or unlatch the door.

The bolt 17 is engageable when projected into latching position with a striker plate 21 having a suitable bolt receiving aperture 22. The striker plate 21 is mounted on a flange portion 23 of the vehicle body. This flange portion 23, hereinafter referred to as the jamb face, is in spaced substantially parallel relationship to the free end wall 14 of the door. The jamb face 23 is structurally reinforced by a channel member 24 welded therebeneath.

The structure as here-in-above described is conventional. When the cargo door or the like is in open position, the latch bolt 17 is retracted so as to clear the top surface of the striker plate 21. After the door or the like is moved to a closed position, the latch bolt 17, through actuation of the latch mechanism controlling its movement, may be projected so as to engage the bolt receiving aperture in the striker plate. It will be noted that the bolt 17 is shown as having a tapered nose portion 17a which is adapted to guide the bolt through the striker aperture even if the bolt and bolt receiving apertures are slightly misaligned. In a conventional installation, either the peripheral edges of the door or the peripheral area of the door receiving opening in the vehicle body is provided with a rubber seal (not shown) which is compressed as the door is fully latched. Although the primary function of the seal is to keep out air and Water, it also exerts an outward pressure on the door which tends to keep the bolt 17 in tight abutting relationship to a wall surface of the bolt receiving aperture 22 adjacent the outer edge of the striker plate. Due to manufacturing tolerances and wear on the sealing strip, the outward force is frequently insuflicient to maintain a sufficiently tight relationship between the bolt and the striker to prevent rattling and door chucking movements as the vehicle is driven over rough or semirough terrain.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple antirattle device which may be interposed between the free edge wall 14 of the vehicle door and the striker plate 21 mounted on the jamb face 23 of the body structure to assist the door seals in maintaining the door against rattling and chucking movements.

The antirattle device, generally designated 25, embodied in the present invention, comprises a sheet metal plate 26 preferably formed from spring steel. The plate 26 has at least two small circular apertures 27 and one large rectangular aperture 28 therein. The small apertures 27 are adapted to receive fastening devices 29 for securing the antirattle device to the free edge wall 14 of the door. The aperture 28 is complementary in shape to the aperture 16 in the free edge wall 14 of the door and is adapted to be aligned with the aperture 16 when the antirattle device is fastened on the door.

The plate 26 has a continuous flange 31 extending around two sides. As best seen in FIG. 1, in the mounted position of the antirattle device 25 the flange 26 overlies the lower edge portions of the inner panel 13 and the vertical free edge wall 15 of the door 11. The flange 31 thus serves with the fastening devices 29 to locate the anztirattle device 25 on the door. An additional locating means is a flange 32 formed at one edge of the aperture 28 and extending at a right angle to the plane of the plate 26 in the same direction as the continuous flange 31. To accommodate this flange 32, the edge 33 of the aperture 16 in the free edge wall 114 is spaced from the wall 34- of the guide sleeve :18. This permits the flange 32 to be inserted through the free edge wall 14 into abutting relationship with the sleeve wall 34.

Along the edge of the plate member 26 opposite the longitudinally extending portion of the continuous flange 21, the plate member is provided with a curved or substantially S-shaped flange 35. This flange 35 extends in a direction opposite to that in which the flanges 3:1 and 32 extend, or when it is mounted on the free edge wall of the vehicle door, the flange 35 will extend away from said wall. As will be noted with respect to FIG. 4, the direction of curvature of the flange 35 is such that it is bent to overlie a portion of the plate 26. The terminal portion 36 of the flange 35 is provided with a reverse bend. As best seen in FIG. 1, when the vehicle door is in a closed position, the terminal portion 36 of the flange 35 engages the side wall 37 of the striker plate 21. The degree of engagement is such that in fully closed position of the door the flange 35 must be resiliently forced outwardly. The antirattle device 26, as a whole, is anchored against outward movement by the continuous flange 31, the flange 32 and, of course, the fastening devices 29.

In operation, as the door is swung to a closed position the flange 35 on the antirattle device will engage the side wall 37 of the striker plate 21, thus actually inhibiting full closing movement of the door. This results in a slight misalignment of the latch bolt 17 with the latch bolt receiving aperture 22 in the striker plate -21. Upon the latch bolt being projected toward the striker plate, the tapered nose portion 17a of the latch bolt 17 will engage the outer wall of the aperture 22 in the striker plate. The result is that the latch bolt and aperture are forcibly aligned and the flange 35 on the antirattle device is forced outwandly of the vehicle door relative to the latch bolt. In other words, the flange 35 is placed under tension. The result of this tension is that the latch bolt face 17a is held in tight abutting relationship to the coacting wall of the aperture 22 in the striker 21. The door is thus securely held against rattling or chucking movements which otherwise might result from insuflicient door seal pressure or worn door seals.

In the drawing, only the lower edge portion of a cargo door and the latch bolt operating therein for a vehicle body are illustrated. It will be understood that similar structure may appear at the top of the door or at the side or vertical free edge wall. Further, although the antirattle device is shown in operative relationship to the type of latch bolt which is forcibly urged into latching position by a draw bar, it will be understood that any latch bolt of the snap lock type would benefit from an antirattle device as embodied in the present invention.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction shown and described but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An antirattle device adapted to be mounted on a free edge wall of a vehicle door in opposition to a striker plate mounted on a jamb face of a door framing structure, said antirattle device comprising a plate member having fastener receiving apertures therein, flange means extending around two sides of said plate member and extending in a direction. to overlie portions of the door adjacent said free edge wall, an integral resilient flange on said plate member, said resilient flange extending along one edge in a direction away from said free edge Wall and having a terminal edge portion overlying said plate member, an aperture in said plate member through which a latch bolt is adapted to project for latching engagement with a side wall of a bolt receiving aperture in said striker plate, said resilient flange terminal edge portion being adapted to engage an exterior side wall of said striker plate after said free edge wall is moved into overlapped relation to said jamb face to induce misalignment of said latch bolt and side wall of said latch bolt receiving aperture, said resilient flange being adapted to resiliently flex in a direction to permit alignment of said latch bolt and bolt re ceiving aperture wall upon entry of said latch bolt into said bolt receiving aperture, the resistance to such flexing being adapted to maintain said latch bolt and side wall of said bolt receiving aperture in tight abutting relationship.

2. In combination, a vehicle door having a free edge wall having vertical edge portions, a latch bolt mounted Within said vehicle door and adapted to be projected outwardly from said free edge wall into latching position, a guide sleeve mounted inwardly of said free edge Wall encompassing said latch bolt, a vehicle body frame member providing a door jamb, a striker plate mounted on said door jamb, said striker plate having a latch bolt receiving aperture, and an antirattle device interposed between said free edge wall of the door and said striker plate, said antirattle device comprising a plate secured to said free edge wall, said plate having an aperture through which said latch bolt is adapted to project, a first flange means on said plate member having a portion extending in a direction to overlie at least one vertical edge portion of the door, a second flange means on said plate member projecting through said free edge wall and abutting a wall portion of said guide sleeve, a resilient flange on said plate along one edge thereof, said resilient flange being engageable with a side wall of said striker plate to resiliently urge said door in opening direction and thereby to create misalignment of said latch bolt with said latch bolt receiving aperture, said latch bolt upon entry into said bolt receiving aperture engaging a wall surface thereof and forcibly aligning itself with the bolt receiving aperture against the resistance of said resilient flange, said resilient flange thereby being eifective to maintain said latch bolt and said wall surface in tight abutting relationship.

3. In combination, a vehicle door having a free edge wall having vertical edge portions, a latch bolt mounted within said vehicle door and adapted to be projected outwardly from said free edge wall into latching position, a vehicle body frame member providing a door jamb, a striker plate mounted on said door jamb, said striker plate having a latch bolt receiving aperture, and an antirattle device interposed between said free edge wall of the door and said striker plate, said antirattle device comprising a plate secured to said free edge wall, said plate having an aperture through which said latch bolt is adapted to project in latched position, flange means extending around two sides of said plate member and extending in a direction to overlie said vertical edge portions of the door, a resilient flange on said plate along one edge thereof, said resilient flange being engageable with an outer side wall of said striker plate to resiliently urge said door in opening direction and thereby to create misalignment of said latch bolt with said latch bolt receiving aperture, said latch bolt upon entry into said bolt receiving aperture engaging a wall surface thereof and forcibly aligning itself with the bolt receiving aperture against the resistance of said resilient flange, said resilient flange thereby being effective to maintain said latch bolt and said wall surface in tight abutting relationship.

4. In combination, a vehicle door having a free edge wall having vertical edge portions, a latch bolt mounted within said vehicle door and adapted to be projected outwardly from said free edge wall into latching position, a guide sleeve mounted on the inner surface of said free edge wall encompassing said latch bolt, a vehicle body frame member providing a door jamb, a striker plate mounted on said door jamb, said striker plate having a latch bolt receiving aperture, and an antirattle device interposed between said free edge wall of the door and said striker plate, said antirattle device comprising a plate secured to said free edge wall, said plate having an aperture through which said latch bolt is adapted to project in latched position, a first flange means extending around two sides of said plate member and extending in a direction to overlie said vertical edge portions of the door, a second flange means projecting through said free edge wall and abutting a wall portion of said guide sleeve, a resilient flange on said plate along one edge thereof, said resilient flange being engageable with an outer side wall of said striker plate to resiliently urge said door in 5 opening direction and thereby to create misalignment of said latch bolt with said latch bolt receiving aperture, said latch bolt upon entry into said bolt receiving aperture engaging a wall surface thereof and forcibly aligning itself with the bolt receiving aperture against the resistance of said resilient flange, said resilient flange thereby being effective to maintain said latch bolt and said wall surface in tight abutting relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,506,270 McClurg Aug. 19, 1924 5 1,614,814 Mobley Jan. 18, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS 196,871 Great Britain May 3, 1923 

1. AN ANTIRATTLE DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A FREE EDGE WALL OF A VEHICLE DOOR IN OPPOSITION TO A STRIKER PLATE MOUNTED ON A JAMB FACE OF A DOOR FRAMING STRUCTURE, SAID ANTIRATTLE DEVICE COMPRISING A PLATE MEMBER HAVING FASTENER RECEIVING APERTURES THEREIN, FLANGE MEANS EXTENDING AROUND TWO SIDES OF SAID PLATE MEMBER AND EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION TO OVERLIE PORTIONS OF THE DOOR ADJACENT SAID FREE EDGE WALL, AN INTEGRAL RESILIENT FLANGE ON SAID PLATE MEMBER, SAID RESILIENT FLANGE EXTENDING ALONG ONE EDGE IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID FREE EDGE WALL AND HAVING A TERMINAL EDGE PORTION OVERLYING SAID PLATE MEMBER, AN APERTURE IN SAID PLATE MEMBER THROUGH WHICH A LATCH BOLT IS ADAPTED TO PROJECT FOR LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH A SIDE WALL OF A BOLT RECEIVING APERTURE IN SAID STRIKER PLATE, SAID RESILIENT FLANGE TERMINAL EDGE PORTION BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AN EXTERIOR SIDE WALL OF SAID STRIKER PLATE AFTER SAID FREE EDGE WALL IS MOVED INTO OVERLAPPED RELATION TO SAID JAMB FACE TO INDUCE MISALIGNMENT OF SAID LATCH BOLT AND SIDE WALL OF SAID LATCH BOLT RECEIVING APERTURE, SAID 